Posted on 05/31/2006 5:42:38 PM PDT by blam
Teenage boy blows up the house with deodorant
By David Sapsted
(Filed: 01/06/2006)
A teenager left at home while his parents were on holiday decided to do some washing - and ended up blowing the roof off and causing £35,000 of damage.
In a freak string of mishaps, Sean Davey, 18, left a washing basket full of clothes on top of the electric cooker. He then accidentally knocked one of the hob controls, turning on one of the rings, before going out to meet friends.
The heated ring set fire to the basket of clothes which, in turn, heated a nearby bag of shopping that his sister Nicky, 20, had left for her brother earlier in the day.
And that caused a can of Sure deodorant to explode with such force that it not only blew out windows but cracked a wall and even, briefly, lifted the roof off the bungalow.
Three fire crews tackled the blaze in the home at Caister-on-Sea near Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, on Sunday evening. Firemen rescued one of the family's labrador dogs while the other one escaped of his own accord and reappeared, somewhat shaken, eight hours later.
Joanne Bray, who cut short her holiday in the Scottish Highlands with her husband Paul when they heard of the disaster, said yesterday that structural damage to the building was estimated at £20,000 with another £15,000 needed to repair fire and smoke damage inside.
"Sean phoned me and said: 'Mum, the house is on fire.' I have forgiven him because it was just one of those unfortunate accidents. I am just grateful that he and the dogs are alive and well," said Mrs Bray.
"I can't really blame him for what happened. I would be happy to leave him again when we next go on holiday. It is just ironic that the fire was started by the electric hob because Sean didn't actually cook anything while we were away - he survived on microwave meals and takeaways."
Alan Jaye, the watch manager with Norfolk Fire Service, said: "The can of deodorant was left near the cooker hood in the kitchen. The pressure waves that aerosols give off when they explode can be quite phenomenal.
"In this case, the force of the blast was so great that some of the window frames were pushed right out and a crack was put in the building.
"We would advise families never to expose aerosol cans to any heat."
Sean and his parents were staying with friends yesterday.
Damn... that's some deodorant!
The French never have this problem.
Upon reading this story, Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) immediately called for restrictions on the sale of aerosol deodorant.
Glad everyone is okay. It's one of those things that since it didn't happen to anyone we know it's hilarious.
I am the first to call BS on this article. Certainly heating aerosol cans can cause them to explode. But blowing the roof off the house, even "temporarily", no way.
This is a case for the Mythbusters!!
ROTFL!
Raise your roof if you're Sure!!!!
"We would advise families never to expose aerosol cans to any heat."
Duh! It says so right on the can.
I've lost track of how many houses have exploded when Aerosol Bug Bombs have been set off with a gas stove or
water heater running.
Accidentally?
and that caused a can of Sure deodorant to explode with such force that it not only blew out windows but cracked a wall and even, briefly, lifted the roof off the bungalow.
No effing way. I think the little blighter was up to something and covered his tracks...
I'm certain respective ping lists would like this.
That sure is some deodorant.
18 year old 'teenage boy'?
As Homer says, "It's funny because I don't know him!"
I was living in San Jose when an exterminating company put a 'tent' over the entire house and blew away the whole neighborhood. (Not my neighborhood)
Well, the roof was only off for a short time, then it fell right into place; so off-course, it was only tentorarily misplaced... 8<)
But there's plenty of deodorant left over to cover the BS meter ....
Ted Kennedy only calls for Chivas, Chuck Schumer would call for restrictions on the sale of aerosol deodorant.
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